Gail Zimmerman, PhD

Inside Trophy Hunting: A Walking Discussion

Dr. Zimmerman began hunting quail and rabbits on his family's Kansas farm as a child, and today he travels the world as a trophy hunter with a large collection of species on display at his home in Caspar, Wyoming. He is a retired professor of physiology and microbiology, author of several articles on the physiology of hibernation, and he served for 14 years in the Wyoming State Legislature. He is a board member of Polestar Outdoors, a nonprofit that introduces young people to hunting and fishing, and a former Trustee of the John Templeton Foundation.

When Henry and I visited Dr. Zimmerman at his house in Caspar, we spent the first hour walking through his trophy room, discussing his experiences hunting and killing the animals on display, and what attracts him to the sport. After that immersive introduction, we sat down for a bit and delved more deeply into questions about the culture and policies supporting trophy hunting.